Disclosure of pateint confidentiality

Tinks32

I opened a letter that was addressed to me as parent or guardian of Miss (my daughters name). It was a letter for a hospital scan (baby):eek:
She is 16, but working so is no longer a child, i get no benefits for her. She specifically said she needed the letter to be addressed to her as she hadn't decided what she was going to do.
I feel very angry for her that she was let down by the hospital, does anyone know which procedure she has for complaining?

Hanky_Panky

Please don't waste the hospital's time ! It could be better spent on patient care.

Really until she reaches 18 she is still a child in law regardless of your personal view and the hospital has acted correctly by informing you.

[Deleted User]

Find the contact details for PALS for hospital. Ask them how this is covered under their information governance policies (internally called 'IG' in the NHS).

lovecake

No idea what to do I'm afraid, but couldn't read and run. I can't believe they did that!! I started making my own docs appointments at 16 for contraception, sexual health screenings etc. and would have been absoutely mortified if they had sent letters to my parents! :eek:

It is a shame that she has been forced to discuss it with you before she was ready, but on a positive note, at least you know and can be a support to her.

miss_independent

Try this;

http://www.nhs.uk/choiceintheNHS/Yourchoices/hospitalchoice/Pages/Hospitalcomplaints.aspx

I hope this wasn't the first of you finding out she was pregnant?

I do find that a lot of the time confidentiality isn't maintained even though it is clearly wrong and could be distressing.

When I was an older teenager my mum accompanied me for some tests (I was worried) and I needed a CT scan at one point. The lady asked me the date of my last period and I said that it had been 6 weeks before and that I suffered with irregular periods. She then informed me that the scan couldn't go ahead until I'd taken a pregnancy test. I burst out laughing and said there was absolutely no chance I was pregnant as I hadn't had sex. She told me I couldn't be sure?!

She then told me to get dressed and proceeded to go out into the hall and tell my mother that my scan couldn't go ahead as "there was a chance I was pregnant and the procedure could harm the baby" :eek:

Luckily my Mum knew me well enough to know I was a virgin but still, it was extremely embarassing.

Hanky_Panky

miss_independent wrote: »

I hope this wasn't the first of you finding out she was pregnant?

I do find that a lot of the time confidentiality isn't maintained even though it is clearly wrong and could be distressing.

Sounds like it was the first time she has found out and is now trying to direct her anger at something - anything, other than her daughter.

I just don't get why you believe the hospital is 'clearly wrong' - why ? This is a child we are talking about here.

Amanda65

Whilst I understand that the hospital have potentially breached what you and your daughter feel to be confidentiality, as a mother my first concern would be that my 16 year old daughter had discovered she was pregnant and been for a scan and not felt able to tell me - regardless of what her decision about whether or not continuing the pregnancy was to be.

Please put this matter to one side and support your daughter - it may be a blessing in disguise if she could not work out how to tell you.

Tinks32

Unfortunately I was blissfully unaware until I opened the letter!

I felt very let down for her, she has now made her decision and I will be supporting her.

On a brighter note I found bpas extremely helpful to my daughter, her boyfriend and me. I think the NHS are wonderful and we are very lucky to have them, but can you imagine the harm that could have been done say if maybe she had a strict Muslim family?

Tinks32

She only found out 3 days before the letter arrived, I am far from upset, she is my daughter and i love her unconditionally. Why would I be upset? She hadn't been for a scan, it was an appointment for a scan at the end of March. She is very early on in the pregnancy.

miss_independent

Hanky_Panky wrote: »

Sounds like it was the first time she has found out and is now trying to direct her anger at something - anything, other than her daughter.

I just don't get why you believe the hospital is 'clearly wrong' - why ? This is a child we are talking about here.

I still feel it should have been her choice as to when and how she told her parents.

And OP hasn't confirmed whether or not she did know before hand yet, so I didn't want to assume. IMHO there is a big difference.

I volunteer at a charity for women facing crisis pregnancies and some of them are only teenagers living at home who are in a situation where they would face abuse or being thrown out if a parent found out they were pregnant. In some cases (particular sections of the community) the girls lives could be at risk and a letter like this could create massive problems. The charity I work for often acts as an intermediary, helping the young women to tell their families or, if there is danger to themselves, arranging safe housing for them.

miss_independent

Wow Tinks what a shock! But you sound like a great Mum, so I'm sure with your support DD will be fine.